Not only did Lynette end up reflecting deeply on the importance of placemaking, truth and storytelling, she also moved to Armidale, NSW and enrolled in a PhD at the University of New England to explore the concept in-depth.
"The inquiry was an eye-opener and led me to think deeply about First Nations placemaking, and the need to personally come to a place of peace about my white ancestry and their settlement," Lynette said.
"I attended the Goonoowigall Soundtrails at Inverell in 2019, and realised the importance of First-Nation people's stories and truth-telling of place. Our stories of place are a testament to our resilience and are a rebuttal to the settlers' concepts of development. For example, we look at place as a living being of which we are a part, whereas from a western perspective, places are seen as commodities.”
During the inquiry, Lynette came to realise that Australia's First Nation's people have been reduced to stake-holders in decision-making of their homelands whereas before colonisation they were the decision-makers.
While Lynette’s research will cover the Ngarabul's resilience, epigenetic memory, history, and decision-making since European settlement, she is hopeful that her PhD will also help change policy so First-Nations people will have a stronger voice regarding decisions affecting their homelands.
Born in Ngunnawal/Ngambri country, Canberra, Lynette moved to Yuin county on the far south coast where she has lived for the past twenty years. Over the course of her career she has worked in the public service, land councils and local government and has a background in management, counselling, hypnotherapy, education, and social ecology. Most recently Lynette presented a guest lecture on Indigenous politics at UNE and is currently working on the film Pemulwuy-the movie - a truth-telling story of the first colonial war in Sydney and the heroism of the first resistance leader, Bidjigal warrior, Pemulwuy.
"I chose to come to Armidale and UNE because it's close to Ngarabul country and the research sites - Goonoowigall, Inverell and the Mole River, Tenterfield - where I'm conducting my case studies," Lynette said.
Studying at university is now a whole of family affair for Lynette.
"Two of my children are also studying at UNE – Elias, my son, is an on-campus student and an employee at UNE, while my daughter, Rose, is studying online. My niece, Jessica, completed UNE's tertiary preparation program, TRACKS, and is now working at a primary school in Glen Innes."
With her youngest son also studying but at a different university, Lynette couldn't help but reflect on their educational experience compared to her own when she first entered university over 25 years ago.
"I was the first of my cousins on the Marlow side to go to university, and it took me 10 years to get my first degree,” Lynette said.
“It was very hard as I was a single mum with three small children. As an external student I had to attend week-long lectures every three months. My children missed me so I switched degrees to be on campus at a university closer to home. I would take my four year old to class and he would draw as I listened to lectures. In those days the lectures were face-to face, mostly in the middle of the day and I had to drive across town to attend classes. Studying wasn’t a ‘user friendly’ experience. We didn't have the internet or the flexibility of online study and I didn't receive good marks, passes and credits. It was hard work, but the reward was seeing my children's faces when I graduated in 2001. They were so proud. We, as a family, achieved that first degree together.
"Today, it's very different. Online study is flexible and both Rose and my niece have flourished while completing TRACKS. I see a change in my grandchildren with Rose's tertiary experience as the TRACKS program is flexible. My grandchildren love Rose studying."
With so many students in the family there is potential for tension, but Lynette says they have an unwritten rule not to interrupt each other while studying.
"With the PhD I found I need to have quiet surroundings and space because there is more planning to do as well as active research. But, if we need advice, we yarn to each other."
Having studied at four different universities since the early nineties, Lynette said UNE really suited her learning style.
"I've previously studied cross-institutional units at UNE and found it to be a very positive online studying experience. Not only is UNE organised, but it has also committed First Nations staff at the Oorala Aboriginal Centre and is a great community whether you're studying online or face-to-face."
Lynette also found the UNE PhD community knowledgeable, inclusive and supportive, saying that there are regular meetings between students and supervisors and that students are extensively mentored and coached.
"Some universities prefer Indigenous students to complete their HDR studies with an Indigenous supervisor. I found that UNE's non-Indigenous staff have enormous experience in working with and for Indigenous communities. I felt culturally safe working with my PhD supervisors, Professor Robyn Bartel and Adjunct Professor Wendy Beck and I have great respect for our Pro-Vice Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy), Professor Joe Fraser. Professor Fraser has been extremely supportive toward the First Nation students and is often at the Oorala Centre interacting with staff and students.”
